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Sorensen-McGee returns to Black Ferns for O’Reilly Cup clash with Australia
Sport Nation • August 20th, 2026 12:00 pm
Braxton Sorensen-McGee | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The Black Ferns have named a strong matchday 23 for their first Test of 2026 on home soil, with Whitney Hansen's side set to host Australia at Auckland's Go Media Stadium this Saturday.
Elinor-Plum King will make her Black Ferns debut after being named to start in the loose forwards, while lock Amarante Sititi and winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a have been included on the bench for their potential first appearances for New Zealand.
“Elinor-Plum is incredibly agile and relentless through the middle, but she’s also becoming a real threat on the edge. She’s worked exceptionally hard over the past three years to put her hand up for this team, and what we saw from her last week showed she’s ready to be part of this environment," head coach Hansen said in a statement.
“Shyrah is a strong ball carrier and has great offload ability who’s gained a huge amount of experience being around this group, including during the Pacific Four Series which has helped her develop.
“Amarante is a phenomenal talent with the versatility to play both lock and loose forward as she continues to develop. She’s powerful in collisions and is building a deeper understanding of her role within the team.”
Whitney Hansen | Photo: Photosport
The lineup also features Braxton Sorensen-McGee at fullback, the 2025 World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, who returns for her first Test of 2026.
Prop Santo Taumata is set to make a highly anticipated comeback, four years after her last Black Ferns appearance in the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park.
Halfback Ariana Bayler has also been called into the squad as injury cover for Tara Turner. Bayler returns to the Black Ferns for the first time in almost three years, bringing valuable experience to the match-day squad.
Chryss Viliko and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu will start at prop, with Georgia Ponsonby named at hooker.
The locking combination of Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu will pack down alongside loose forwards Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, King and Kaipo Olsen-Baker, who starts at number eight.
In the backline, Maia Joseph partners captain Ruahei Demant in the halves. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt and Amy du Plessis will form the midfield pairing, while Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Mererangi Paul start on the wings.
Vici-Rose Green, Maddison Robinson, Mia Anderson and Hannah King will join Sititi and Tuliau-Tua’a among the replacements.
A victory for the Black Ferns would see them retain the O’Reilly Cup. They will then travel to South Africa the following week to face the Springbok Women as part of an All Blacks double-header in Johannesburg.
Black Ferns team to play Australia
1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7. Elinor-Plum King, 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9. Maia Joseph, 10. Ruahei Demant (captain), 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, 13. Amy Du Plessis, 14. Mererangi Paul, 15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee.
Bench: 16. Vici-Rose Green, 17. Maddison Robinson, 18. Santo Taumata, 19. Amarante Sititi, 20. Mia Anderson, 21. Ariana Bayler, 22. Hannah King, 23. Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a.
Unavailable due to injury: Mo’omo’oga Palu (concussion), Tara Turner (hamstring), Layla Sae (knee).
The Black Ferns are the standard for NZ Rugby | Scotty & Izzy
